How to drain a twin tub washer into a bathtub

Put the twin tub beside the bathtub (or inside it, if it fits and sits level), hang the drain hose over the tub edge so it runs downhill the whole way, and open the drain. A twin tub drains by gravity, so the only rule that matters is that the water’s path never goes uphill. If the machine’s drain outlet is lower than the tub rim, raise the machine on a sturdy, level, water-safe platform, or set it inside the tub. A bathtub is the best drain in most apartments for this kind of washer, much better than a kitchen sink.

Why the bathtub suits a twin tub

Twin tubs like the SUPER DEAL 13 lb and the COSTWAY 5.5 lb mini don’t have a drain pump. The water leaves because it’s higher than where it’s going. A kitchen sink sits at counter height, above the drain outlet on most machines standing on the floor, so gravity doesn’t work there without lifting the machine. A bathtub floor is lower than almost anything, and a tub drain is built to take a lot of water at once.

The tub also catches splashes, drips from the spin tub, and the occasional hose that slips. The drain pump vs gravity guide covers the general rule; this page is the setup.

Three ways to place it

1. Beside the tub, hose over the edge. The easiest setup when the machine’s drain outlet sits higher than the tub rim. Check where the outlet is on your machine before you commit; on many small twin tubs it’s low on the side or back.

2. Raised beside the tub. If the outlet is below the rim, lift the machine. Use something solid and level that doesn’t mind water. The machine is heaviest when full and it moves during the spin, so a wobbly stool or a stack of books is a bad idea.

3. Inside the tub. If it fits flat and level on the tub floor, this is the simplest drain of all: the hose just points at the drain. The tradeoffs are bending over to load it, a slippery tub floor, and getting the machine in and out for storage. Put a rubber mat under it so it doesn’t slide during spin.

Whatever you choose, the cord and plug stay out of the tub and away from splashes, and the machine plugs straight into a grounded outlet. No extension cord.

Routing the hose

• Downhill all the way. Any loop that rises above the outlet will trap water and stop the drain.
• Short is better. The COSTWAY’s 14” hose is short on purpose. Extending it adds a place to leak and a place to sag.
• Secure the end. Clip or weigh the hose end so it doesn’t jump out when the first rush of water comes. A hose that lands on the bathroom floor is the usual way these setups go wrong.
• Clear the drain. Hair and lint at the tub drain slow everything down. Pull the stopper and clear the strainer before you start.

Filling a twin tub in the bathroom

You have three options, from easiest to hardest:

1. Hose from the bathroom faucet. Needs an adapter that fits the bathroom aerator, which is often smaller than a kitchen one. See the 13/16 bathroom faucet adapter guide.
2. Hose from the tub spout. Many tub spouts have no thread, so a slip-on hose or filling by hand is more realistic.
3. Buckets. Tedious, but foolproof.

If your kitchen has a pull-down faucet, the bathroom is probably your fill point anyway. See pull-down faucets and portable washers.

Running a load, step by step

1. Place and level the machine. Plug it into a grounded outlet.
2. Hang the drain hose over the tub, pointing at the drain.
3. Fill the wash tub to the line, add a small amount of detergent, load clothes, set the wash timer.
4. When the wash ends, drain the wash tub into the bathtub.
5. Move clothes to the spin tub. Don’t overload it, or it will shake.
6. Refill to rinse if you want a rinse cycle, then drain again.
7. Spin, then hang or move clothes to a spin dryer or drying rack.
8. Wipe the tub, rinse out lint, and store the machine dry.

Which twin tub for a bathtub setup

SUPER DEAL Compact Mini Twin Tub, 13 lb. 13 lb printed across the wash and spin tubs, gravity drain, separate spin tub. It’s the larger option and the better fit if you’re washing for more than one person. You move wet clothes by hand from the wash tub to the spin tub.

COSTWAY Mini Portable Washing Machine, 5.5 lb. 5.5 lb wash, separate spin basket, 15-minute wash and 6-minute spin timers, 14” drain hose. Small enough to set inside many tubs and store in a closet. Towels and jeans take several batches.

If you’d rather not move wet clothes at all, an automatic with a pump can drain into a tub too. It just doesn’t need one. See twin-tub vs automatic.

Common mistakes

• Floor-level machine, hose over a high tub rim. That’s uphill. It won’t drain, or it will drain halfway and stop.
• Walking away during the first drain. Watch it the first few times.
• Overloading the spin tub. An unbalanced spin tub walks. On a raised platform, that’s dangerous.
• Leaving lint in the tub drain. Clean the strainer after every laundry day.
• Ignoring upstairs neighbors. A bathroom overflow goes straight through the ceiling below. Read the upstairs guide.

The short version

Twin tubs and bathtubs are made for each other. Keep the hose running downhill, raise or sink the machine as needed, secure the hose end, and stay with it while it drains.